The best way to attract and keep school-bus drivers is to make sure their pay stays a few dollars above the minimum wage, Langs told the panel. But the proposed minimum wage hike — without parallel dollars for school transportation — would see drivers leaving the industry for jobs with the same pay and less responsibility elsewhere, he said.

“It will be perceived their work isn’t being appreciated,” he told the MPPs.

And if ongoing driver shortages are exacerbated by the increase, it could lead to service issues for the 825,000 Ontario kids bused to school daily, he warned. “I’m not against minimum wage, but this is coming with little warning and no additional provincial dollars.”

Justin Chong, staff lawyer, Neighbourhood Legal Services

Large corporations are taking advantage of low-wage workers to the point such workers are increasingly unable to pay their rent, said Chong.

“There’s a huge segment of the population that requires an increase in wages, because they are struggling to maintain the privileges many of us take for granted,” he said.

His presentation on the vulnerable reality for minimum-wage workers — especially those working several jobs to stay afloat — drew a “Hear, hear!” from the crowd watching, but a rebuttal by Progressive Conservative MPP (Elgin-Middlesex-London) Jeff Yurek. He argued small businesses in his riding will be threatened by the dramatic raise.

Chong, who told the MPPs he grew up in a family restaurant and could “sympathize with small business,” cited statistics from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives that only 17 per cent of workers who would be affected by the raise actually work for small business. Close to 60 per cent work for companies with more than 500 employees, he said.

Ken Wall, chairperson, Asparagus Farmers of Ontario

For fruit and vegetable growers like Wall, the proposed minimum- wage increase feels like a threat to their livelihood.

“Can we survive? Can we continue to put food on plates, pay the mortgage and keep our businesses going?” he asked.

Wall said he’s not against higher minimum wages in principle, but urged the panel of MPPs to slow down the changes and “look at implementing this thing in a reasonable time frame.”

Wall said the hike would translate to a 20-per-cent increase in costs for small farms, a margin that’s “simply not available.”

During peak season in May and June, 2,500 workers — temporary and permanent — are employed on Ontario asparagus farms, he said.

Darryl Bedford, president, Ontario Public Service Employees Union, Local 110

Though they do the same work as the full-time professors, contract faculty are working multiple jobs and struggling to make ends meet, said Bedford, who represents professors, librarians and other contract faculty at Fanshawe College.

He called it the “paycheque-to- paycheque” reality for nearly 1,100 contract instructors at Fanshawe.

But Bedford is concerned colleges may find loopholes under the Colleges Collective Bargaining Act, for example to deem the work of contract instructors different than that of full-time teaching staff.

“These changes are a good start, but there’s more to do,” he said of Bill 148.

Barb MacQuarrie, community director, Western University’s Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children

There’s a glimmer of hope for domestic-violence victims. The proposed overhaul of labour laws will offer some support, in the form of personal emergency leave – including two paid days – that can be taken by those experiencing sexual or domestic violence.

MacQuarrie told the MPPs “we’re grateful the issue came up . . . we’re looking at opening a door.”

The changes would help grow awareness and reduce stigma, MacQuarrie said. A whopping 71 per cent of bosses, according to the Conference Board of Canada, have supported an employee dealing with sexual or domestic violence, she said, adding that there’s an international push to make 10 days available for emergency leave.

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About Bill 148

Minimum wage would rise from $11.40 an hour now (it’s due to go to $11.60 on Oct. 1) to $14 on Jan. 1, 2018, and to $15 a year later.

Minimum three weeks of vacation after five years of service.

Personal emergency leave, including two paid days.

Equal pay for employees doing equal work, including any temporary workers assigned the same tasks.